Press release: Man jailed for sexual assault on young boy

A man who sexually assaulted a young boy has been imprisoned after his non-custodial sentence was overturned by the Court of Appeal.

Nicholas Henshall, 44, was found guilty of sexual assault on a child at Liverpool Crown Court in September this year.

He initially received a 20 month sentence suspended for 2 years, and a 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. His sentence was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

At a hearing held today, the Court quashed the original sentence and replaced it with 20 months imprisonment without suspension, less 28 days credit for time spent on qualifying curfew. The 10 year Sexual Harm Prevention Order is still in place. Henshall has been ordered to surrender himself by tomorrow, 30 November, to begin his sentence.

Following the hearing, the Solicitor General said:

“Nicholas Henshall committed a horrible crime on a vulnerable young boy who showed immense courage in reporting the offending. The original sentence did not reflect the seriousness of this offence and I welcome today’s ruling from the Court of Appeal that he will now be imprisoned.”